After blasting across the Lilac Fields, the four heroes arrived at Water Village, a small village resting near a couple of cliffs with waterfalls cascading down around the village itself. Beautiful fountains were dotted across the village, making the place a beautiful sight.

Of course, there was no time for our heroes to rest. With Risky still up and causing mayhem, they had to find out where she was going and what she was up to.

"Maybe Bolo might have insight on where she might be headed." Shantae said, leaning against a marble pillar. "We should go see him."

"You think he knows anything about that, Shantae?" Sky asked. "You know he goes head over heel for any attractive girl available."

"Look, we'll be fine," She said. "He helped me with training ever since the 'lamp incident' before I got my powers back. I'm sure we can trust him."

"I hope so," Sonic said, crossing his arms. "Whatever that vial Risky was holding was, it can't be good."

Tails nodded in agreement. "She said something about drowning out the landmass." He said. "So we need to hurry, and fast."

"Ah, Shantae!" Bolo said as the others found the main fountain. "Was wondering when you'd decide to pay a visit."

"Now's not the time for catch-up, Bolo," Shantae said. "We're got a power-hungry pirate captain on the loose, a-"

"Let me guess, Risky's on the loose around the island again, isn't she?" He said, smirking slightly.

Sky was stunned. "How did y-"

"Simple really," he said. "If you have a massive airship fly overhead a village at nearly 200 miles per hour, chances are, someone's gonna notice."

"Note taken.." Sky said, a drop of sweat running down the side of her head. "So, where'd she head off to?"

"Off in that direction," Bolo said, pointing off towards the depths of Tangle Forest's inner area, Zombie Swamp. "Chances are she's looking for something in there. And I wouldn't put it past her to bribe the Cadaver siblings again like last time."

"Well, we don't have much time, so we better get moving." Sonic said, soon taking off out of the town.

"He doesn't really wait, does he?" Sky said, looking to Tails. Tails shook his head. "Never a dull moment."

"Well, hey, how about I come along?" Bolo said. "Nothing like bashing a few skulls in a bit to help out."

Shantae nodded. "But promise you won't immediately try to go after Risky as soon as you see her."

Bolo smirked. "You got it."

"C'mon guys!" Sonic yelled. "This isn't a waiting competition, let's go!"

The others nodded, and soon the five were headed deep into Tangle Forest's zombie swamp...

"So, how far is this zombie-caravan thing?" Sonic asked as he lept from tree to tree, avoiding the marshy gunk water below them.

"Shouldn't be that far ahead. We're getting close." Shantae said, leaping from a branch to one of the mossy platforms sticking out of the swamp.

A sharp scent seemed to catch Sonic's nose. "Woo! I can smell it, that's for sure."

"Yeah, it gets a bit ripe back here." Sky said. "Get used to it, we're not leaving until we get the information we need."

"Well, better find out where Risky is headed." Tails said. He was so into talking to the rest of the group that he didn't notice the tree branch he flew into. Tails crashed into the branch and fell into the swamp muck below.

"Uchhh, this stuff is disgusting!" Tails whined. "I'm never gonna be able to get this stuff out of my fur!"

"Don't worry." Shantae said. "They've got a place there where you can clean up."

"I hope so..." Tails said, shuddering. "This smell is so rank..." He muttered to himself.

Soon the five came across the Zombie Caravan, a collection of carriages that normally travel throughout Sequin Island during the day, then settle in at night. As it constantly travels, it is never exactly definitive where it usually is around the island. One thing known for sure, the zombies there are rather hospitable, unlike myths of mindless brain-eaters people make them out to be.

"Well, let me tell you," Sonic whispered to Shantae. "This place has all kinds of creepy."

"They're friendly," Shantae whispered back. "Just relax."

"So... where can I get cleaned up?" Tails asked again. "Any longer I'm covered in this gunk, I'm more likely to get infected."

"Bolo and I will get you to the bath wagon." Sky said. "Shantae, you and Sonic find the Cadavers. Let's make sure Risky didn't try to bribe them again."

Shantae nodded. "We'll be on it, Sky." Sky nodded, before she and Bolo took Tails to get him cleaned up.

"So," Sonic asked, "Where exactly is the Cadaver's wagon?"

"Not exactly sure..." Shantae said. "But if memory serves me correct, it should be a caravan with a sign that says keep out. We should be able to find them there."

"So, that one?" Sonic asked, pointing at a caravan. Two torches were lit in front of the entrance, and a large skull rested over the door. A sign next to it in big red letters said 'KEEP OUT'.

"Yep, that'd be the one." Shantae said. "Let's go see her."

"Hey, Rotts, you there?" Shantae asked, knocking on the door to the caravan. No response.

"Rotty?" Shantae asked again, opening the door. A female zombie, about Shantae's age was sitting at a desk in the back of the caravan. Her dark pine-green hair complemented her lighter pale-green skin. Part of her hair was tied off into two short spiky pigtails. She wore a tattered lavender tank-top and dark blue jeans with one leg ripped and around her foot. Most noticeable was the scar across her right eye.

"Mh?" The zombie mumbled to herself before looking up."Oh... Hey Shantae..."

"C'mon Rotty," Shantae said. "You're not still upset over the bribing incident, are you?"

"You got that right." Rotty said. "I still don't think there's any way I can make up for that incident."

"Maybe there is, Rotty." Shantae said. "Risky's back on the loose again, and if we can't stop her, she along with a whole other league of villians are going to completely enslave our world."

"..." Rotty seemed to stay quiet.

"C'mon, Rotty, would you do it for me?" Shantae asked, putting her hands on Rotty's shoulders.

Rotty seemed to the break out of her depressive slump and smiled. She nodded. "I'm in!"

"Great. Let's get moving." Shantae said, turning to leave. Rotty then grabbed her shoulder.

"Hold on, girl." Rotty said. "I've got something for you that might be helpful. Wait for a second." Rotty then started digging through a chest in the caravan until she pulled out a small bottle. "Rub this in your hair. I got this from a travelling merchant. He said this has magical properties."

"Ok.." Shantae said, a bit uncertain. She took a bit of the cream-like lotion and rubbed it into her hair. "I don't notice anything different..."

"Oh, now that looks cool!" Rotty exclaimed. "Shantae, look at your hair!"

"Huh?" Shantae said, looking into a mirror on one of the walls. She was surprised to see the end of her hair form into a large hand!

"Whoa!" She gasped. "Now this could be useful! Thanks Rotty!" She said, hugging her zombie friend.

"It's nothing." She said. "Anything to make up for the incident."

Shantae nodded. "Ok, let's go." The two then left the caravan.

"So, everything sorted out?" Sonic asked as the two exited the caravan.

Shantae nodded. "Sonic, meet Rotty. Rotty, this is Sonic."

"Nice to meet you." Sonic said, sticking his hand out. "Name's Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog."

"Rottytops Cadaver. Rotty for short." Rotty said, shaking his hand.

"So, where to next?" Sonic asked. "We'll need to track down Risky."

"Well, we haven't found Risky anywhere here," Shantae said. "That means we only have one area left."

"Mount Needle?" Rotty asked. "So, that's where she's hiding out?"

Shantae nodded. "It's gotta be. She must be hiding out in Twinkle Palace."

"Well, we're gonna need to head out to find her." Sonic said. "Sky, Tails, and Bolo should check out where she could potentially be moving next."

Shantae nodded. "Let's get going."

AN: AFter a reunion with an old friend, the heroes, now split to complete their own tasks, close in on Risky to put her out of commission. But incidents within other worlds are happening just as unsettlingly. What else is going on?